[AMSAT-BB] Does Dark Rain Clouds Affect FM LEO Satellite Communication?

General information is that hydrometeor or rain particles being quite small, start affecting radio waves only in the microwave range from 3 GHz upwards, typically in the 10 GHz range where plenty of Rain Scatter QSOs are reported. It is also known that higher size of tropical rain particles can lower the minimum frequency for Rain Scatter propagation.

Most would agree that rain clouds will not affect LEO satellite communication in VHF/UHF range. But some of my VU friends have noted that they have poor reception for LEO satellite passes with the same elevation when there are plenty of dark rain clouds.

Does anyone out there have similar observations?

73 de Jon, VU2JO